Grabner, 26, has 12 goals and 25 points through 62 games this year and had been playing well lately, scoring three points in his last six games. The Austrian speedster, who scored 70 goals in his first three seasons with the Islanders, is now on the shelf alongside captain John Tavares (torn MCL) — all told, the Isles are now rolling with a dramatically different lineup than they did pre-deadline, given Thomas Vanek is now in Montreal while Andrew MacDonald is plying his trade for the Flyers.

The club is expected to bring up a forward from AHL Bridgeport while Grabner is out. No word yet on who it’ll be.

Makes the decision about which first rounder to give much easier. They can draft Sam Reinhart this year, and leave that first rounder for 2015. They won’t give Buffalo any increased chance of Connor McDavid next year